Music to sweat by

Rendy Lynn Opdycke, 29, of Mission Viejo swims with the Neptune by Finis during training at the Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

It’s one thing to have the technology to play music while you run, swim and otherwise work out. It’s quite another to find the right song to inspire you through the pain. You likely have your own faves, but if not, here are 10 songs – mostly new, some a little retro – that should get you started.

Wake Me Up (Avicii)

Things Can Only Get Better (Cedric Gervais and Howard Jones)

Berzerk (Eminem)

Mountain Sound (Of Monsters and Men)

Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO)

TiK-ToK (Ke$sha)

Get Lucky (Daft Punk)

Bad (Michael Jackson)

Don’t Stop the Party (Pitbull)

Blurred Lines (Robin Thicke)

Listening to music helps Ken Difonzo as he churns through his laps in the pool.

He’s practically a lab rat for the aquatic MP3 player. He went through a half-dozen of the FINIS-brand SwiMP3, which was created five years ago. All of them went bust on him.

So he was pleasantly surprised when the next-generation player developed by FINIS, the Neptune, worked great. Well, the second one, anyway. The first one broke. But the Livermore-based company replaced it, and the new one is Difonzo’s constant companion during his daily hourlong sessions at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine.

“For me, it really helps,” said Difonzo, 62. “If you listen to music, it’s the way to go.”

Rendy Lynn Opdycke, 29, of Mission Viejo swims with the Neptune by Finis during training at the Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Neptune by Finis is an MP3 player that can be used underwater. Sound is transmitted through the cheekbone to the inner ear. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Yurbuds Ironman Inspire Duo. YURBUDS
The Aftershokz Sportz 2. AFTERSHOKZ
The waterproof iPod, by Underwater Audio. UNDERWATER AUDIO
The Backbeat Go, by Plantronics. PLANTRONICS FLICKR

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